GL2 Focus at DVinfo.net

Mat Jung · August 10th, 2005, 11:26 AM

Hey all, I'm trying to shoot a scene where the background is blurry and the subject is in focus. How can we do this? Do we need a telephoto lense? Thanks, -Mat

Mathieu Ghekiere · August 10th, 2005, 12:10 PM

You could put your iris on 1.8.
But then you get a lot of chance your image is overexposed.

You don't need another lens, the GL2 doesn't even support another lens.
You could zoom in completely in to a close-up of anyone, from far. That you have a CU, but you are completely zoomed in, that should give you a short DOF.
For a medium I think it's much more difficult, but you can do it in the same way, but beware that you surely shoot on a tripod.

Good luck!

Graham Bernard · August 10th, 2005, 12:32 PM

What you, me and others are trying to do is create this very short Depth of Field. This in turn creates interesting layers that will "focus" your viewer's attention onto the item you've taken much time to frame and light.

However, because of the nature of video we are limited - we have BIG DoF! And as Mathieau implies, one of the ways to do this is to forece open the iris in Manual. I do this but I compensate for this overepxosure by adding twcie as much ND - about 1.8 in total. This brings down the exposure and gives me a BIG iris.

Here is a link to the DoF Machine, well titled, website. Have a quick scan through its pages - and weep!

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/dof/index.htm

I'm now seriously contemplating the 35mm adaption, much spoken of, to achieve short DoF.

But you are in the same boat as all of us!

Grazie

Jim Corley · April 26th, 2006, 03:51 PM

Grazie,
Just curious if you ever decided to go for the 35mm adaption? It looks interesting in the "How to" article but I am wondering how practical it is for real world shooting?

Jim

Robin Davies-Rollinson · April 26th, 2006, 04:03 PM

Well, it's not practical at all for "real-world" shooting is it?
OK for pseudo-drama and such, where you can rehearse movements and make focus-marks so that your focus-puller can keep the talent sharp, but I don't see a short DOF being anything other than a hindrance for day-to-day shooting.

Robin

Graham Bernard · April 26th, 2006, 04:58 PM

Robin, straight to the point - as ever. I must say I am achieving much less DoF with my very open Iris and NDs a plenty. This I can cope with. However, a bigger chip will do me no harm AND a 16:9 at that!

I'm still keeping an eye on the mini35 development - I think there is still some more R&D to be squeezed out.

Grazie

Tim Hupalo · April 27th, 2006, 03:55 PM

you could also depending on space. frame your subject with a tighter focal length and seperate the background futher from the subject allowing for focus definition to be tighter. you should be able to create a shallower depth of field by doing this.

August 10th, 2005, 11:26 AM	#1
Mat Jung New Boot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Manahawkin, NJ Posts: 17	GL2 Focus Hey all, I'm trying to shoot a scene where the background is blurry and the subject is in focus. How can we do this? Do we need a telephoto lense? Thanks, -Mat

April 26th, 2006, 03:51 PM	#4
Jim Corley New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 10	35mm Adaption Grazie, Just curious if you ever decided to go for the 35mm adaption? It looks interesting in the "How to" article but I am wondering how practical it is for real world shooting? Jim

August 10th, 2005, 12:10 PM	#2
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	You could put your iris on 1.8. But then you get a lot of chance your image is overexposed. You don't need another lens, the GL2 doesn't even support another lens. You could zoom in completely in to a close-up of anyone, from far. That you have a CU, but you are completely zoomed in, that should give you a short DOF. For a medium I think it's much more difficult, but you can do it in the same way, but beware that you surely shoot on a tripod. Good luck!

August 10th, 2005, 12:32 PM	#3
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	What you, me and others are trying to do is create this very short Depth of Field. This in turn creates interesting layers that will "focus" your viewer's attention onto the item you've taken much time to frame and light. However, because of the nature of video we are limited - we have BIG DoF! And as Mathieau implies, one of the ways to do this is to forece open the iris in Manual. I do this but I compensate for this overepxosure by adding twcie as much ND - about 1.8 in total. This brings down the exposure and gives me a BIG iris. Here is a link to the DoF Machine, well titled, website. Have a quick scan through its pages - and weep! http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/dof/index.htm I'm now seriously contemplating the 35mm adaption, much spoken of, to achieve short DoF. But you are in the same boat as all of us! Grazie

April 26th, 2006, 04:03 PM	#5
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Well, it's not practical at all for "real-world" shooting is it? OK for pseudo-drama and such, where you can rehearse movements and make focus-marks so that your focus-puller can keep the talent sharp, but I don't see a short DOF being anything other than a hindrance for day-to-day shooting. Robin

April 26th, 2006, 04:58 PM	#6
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Robin, straight to the point - as ever. I must say I am achieving much less DoF with my very open Iris and NDs a plenty. This I can cope with. However, a bigger chip will do me no harm AND a 16:9 at that! I'm still keeping an eye on the mini35 development - I think there is still some more R&D to be squeezed out. Grazie

April 27th, 2006, 03:55 PM	#7
Tim Hupalo New Boot Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Arlington VA Posts: 14	you could also depending on space. frame your subject with a tighter focal length and seperate the background futher from the subject allowing for focus definition to be tighter. you should be able to create a shallower depth of field by doing this.